Hydraulically operated bed chair



J1me 1963 M. E. BABCOCK ETAL 3,095,235

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BED CHAIR 4 sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5 1961 INVENTORS M42? 5. BABCocK /-/A 2040 5. 5A BCOCK BY S 6E w l June 25, 1963 M. E. BABCOCK ETAL 3,095,235

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BED CHAIR Filed Sept. 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 I I I f 1 r r 1 I l f I I l 1 i 5 f z a '"(III'III'IIIIII/l,

INVENTORS MAeY E. 54 BCacK Y #42040 S. 5A5c0cl Arroe/wsv s.

M. E. BAECOCK ETAL 3,095,235

June 25, 1963 HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BED CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 5, 1961 Arman/e 71$.

J1me 1963 M. E. BABCOCK ETAL 3,095,235

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BED CHAIR Filed Sept. 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. MAZY5=5A5C0CK BY M42040 5. 5A5COCl United States Patent 3,095,235 HYDRAULICALLY ()PERATED BED C Diary E. Bahcock and Harold S. Babcock, both of 56740 Delft Ave., South Bend, Ind. Filed Sept. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 135,867 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-68) This invention relates to a hydraulically operated bed chair and more particularly to a device which is adapted for the use of invalids or other incapacitated persons.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved bed chair which may be readily converted from a bed to a chair or vice versa with the weight of the patient remaining on the seat.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the raising and the lowering of the seat portion to convert from bed to chair or chair to bed is achieved by hydraulic means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character provided with adjustable head, foot and arm rests which may be readily conformed to the user in either a sitting position or a reclining position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character having readily replaceable parts, such, for example, as the arm rest which may be replaced by a tray and a foot rest which may be replaced by stirrups or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the conversion or adjustment may be accomplished with a minimum of effort and difficulty.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a bed chair of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of bed chair embodying elements of the instant invention, an alternative position of adjustment being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the device taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tray which may be substituted for portions of the device.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view, taken substantially along the line 88 of FIG. 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain concealed parts being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of a further part which may be substituted for the foot rest of the instant invention.

FIGURE 10 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 9 taken substantially along the line Iii-10 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Patented June 25, 1963 FIGURE 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the means for locking any of several telescopic elements of the device; and

FIGURE 11A is a detail sectional View to a still larger scale showing the opposite side of the means for locking any of the several telescopic elements of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention is comprised of a pair of parallel side frames, each of which includes a lower horizontal supporting member 2i) and a pair of intermediate tubular uprights 21. The tubular uprights 21 are connected to the ends of the horizontal member 20 by angularly inclined front and rear pieces 22 and 23, respectively. At their extremities each front and rear piece terminates in a veritcal member 24 and 25, respectively. Each member 24 and 25 supports a swivelably mounted wheel yoke 26 and 27, respectively, and each yoke carries a rubber tired wheel 28. Wheel brakes 29 are provided on each rear wheel support 27 and are operated in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

The side frames are connected adjacent the ends of lower frame members by transverse tubular bars 30 and 31 to provide rigidity to the supporting frame.

Connected to the inclined members 22 and 23 are inwardly converging supports 32, each of which terminates in a vertical end portion 33. The end portions 33 serve as corner supports for a plate or plat-form 34. Platform 34 supports a guide cylinder 35 which has slidably mounted therein a vertical piston 36 which in turn serves as a support for a seat supporting frame member 37 upon which is mounted a seat cushion 38. A hydraulic cylinder 39 carries a piston 46 which, when actuated, serves to raise and lower the frame member 37 and, therefore, the seat cushion 38. An operating lever 41 extending through a bracket 42 carried by one frame member 26 serves to actuate the hydraulic cylinder, by controlling admission of fluid, the cylinder or jack being operated by foot pressure on a foot pedal 45. The pedal 45 is attached to an offset portion 46 of a lever 47 which is pivoted as at 48 to a link 49 extending from a frame member 30. A rod 56 extends from an intermediate portion of the lever to a jack cylinder 51, and movement of the foot pedal 45 thus actuates the cylinder 51 to force fluid into the hydraulic cylinder 39. It is pointed out that there are two foot pedals 45 and two levers 47 so that the device may be actuated from either side. The levers 47 are connected by a transverse member 52, as best seen in FIG. 2.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brakes 29 are operated by brake rods 53 which extend through sleeves 54 carried by rear upright members 25, and which are spring biased upwardly by means of springs 55. Cams 56 are mounted on a transverse rod 57 which may be moved by either of two foot pedals 58 to force the brakes 29 into contact with the associated wheels 28.

The front end of the seat frame may be tilted by a rack 69 which is secured to a transverse rod 61 extending across the seat supporting frame 37 and which is raised or lowered by means of a gear 62 which is driven by a shaft 63 from within a gear box 64, the gear :box containing a worm 65 which is driven by a shaft 66 and which carries a suitable pinion (not shown) and a gear box 67, the pinion being driven by a worm 68 which is carried by a shaft 65 which in turn is rotated by a hand wheel 7 (i.

The forward end of the seat supporting frame 37 has, as best shown in FIG. 4, a depending U-shaped bracket 74, through the ends of which extends a pivot rod 75. A pair of leg rests are pivotally mounted on the pivot rod or shaft 75, each leg rest comprising a pair of longitudinally extending tubular members 76 connected :by transverse members 77. Each of the tubular members 76 terminates in an apertured projection 73 through which the shaft 75 extends. Each of the tubular members 76 has inserted therein a telescopic rod 79 which comprises a portion of a foot rest, the foot rest comprising a plate St} having a pair of upstanding lugs 81 which are pivoted as by pivots 82 to the ends of telescopic members 79, the arrangement being such that the foot rest may pivot to the dotted line position disclosed in FIG. 1 or be extended to the full line position. 1. e leg rest may similarly be pivoted about the pivot rod 75 to a horizontal position when the device is employed as a bed. The leg rests are provided with cushions 83.

The inner telescopic members 79 are each provided with a series of openings 85, as shown in FIGURE 11, into which the nose at one end of a latch 86 is adapted to be inserted through an opening 87 in tubular member 76. This latch is pivotally mounted on a bolt 88 between parallel lugs 39, which are welded to the tubular member 75. At its outer end the latch is formed with a rounded thumb piece 85a. A V-spring 96 has right angle ends, one of which abuts the underside of the latch member 86- and the other of which abuts the tubular member 76 and at its bend a loop of one or more complete turns, which loop surrounds the pivot 88. The latch 86 serves to lock the tubular members 79 and 76 against relative axial movement, the spring 99 biasing the latch with the nose in the aligned openings 35 and 87 in the tubular members 79 and 76, respectively. This form of latch is also used in other places on the bed chair, both in the upright and in the inverted position, and is referred to in general by the reference numeral 91, which will be duplicated hereinafter in other locations where the latch is utilized. Where the latch is used in the horizontal position, or in a position inclined with respect to the latter, the spring 9% serves to bias the latch with its nose in the aligned openings 35 and 87 in the tubular members 79 and 76, respectively.

In order to hold the foot and leg rests in extended or horizontal position pivoted links 92 are provided as best shown in FIG. 3. The links 92 are attached by pivots 93 to the ends of telescopic members 94 which engage in .tubular members 95, the latter in turn being pivoted as at 96 to lugs 97 carried by the frame 37, all as best shown in FIG. 3. Latches 91a identical to the latches 91 engage similar holes in the telescopic members 94 to hold the members and hence the foot rests 8%) in extended or horizontal position.

Cushioned arm rests 98 are carried by U-shaped members 99, these rests being mounted on rods 1% which ex tend into the open ends of vertical uprights 21. Latch members 91!) identical to the latches 91 are provided for holding the arm rests in a selected height of adjus ment.

As bestshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rods 1% may be removed from tubular members 21 and other vertically positioned rods 101 substituted therefor. The rods 1&1 carry a tray generally indicated at 102 which includes telescopic members 103 which are slidably received in tubular members 11M carried at the extremities of uprights .1111. Tubular members 104 are provided with latch members 91c which engage at suitable openings in the telescopic members 103. At the extremities of members 163 reverted ends 105 have pivotally secured thereto as by pivots 106, array rest 197. The angle of the tray rest 107 may be altered by a ratchet member 108 which engages a suitable detent 169 carried by the members 1415 and which is pivoted at 110 to the underside of the tray rest to vary the angular inclination thereof.

1 As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, heel rests generally indicated at 112 may be substituted for the arm rests 98.

Each heel rest is secured to one end of an elongated rod 114. The heel rests are each comprised by a back strap 113 and two oppositely facing side staps 115. In side elevation, as shown in FIG. 9, each side strap 115 is curved outwardly and forwardly from its juncture with the elongated rod 114, and then inwardly to the attachment of the back strap 113 to same; similarly, in rear elevation, as shown in FIGURE 10, each side strap is curved inwardly from the attachment of the back stop or back rest 113, and then outwardly to its juncture with the elongated rod 114. It is contemplated that the elongated rods 114 carrying the heel rests 112 will be inserted in only tube 1114.

If desired, the seat cushion 33 may be provided with a removable center section 38a, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, and the seat supporting frame 37 with an aligned removable center section (not shown), which aligned sections are positioned forwardly from the back support 116, now to be described. The aligned removable cen ter sections or" the seat cushion 33 and the seat supporting frame 37 provide for the placement of a bed pan (not shown), which rests on the supporting frame 115 and beneath the seat support 37.

A back rest is provided and comprises a cushion 116 which is carried by two tubular members 117, each of which is pivoted as by means of a pivot 118 to an arcuate arm 1 19 which in turn is pivoted by pivots'120 to projections 121 which extend from the seat support 37, all as best shown in FIG. 6. A transverse bar 125 extends across aligned intermediate points of the back members 117 and is provided with lugs 126 to which vertical members 127 are secured as by means of pivots 128. These vertical members 127 engage telescopically in tubular members 129, which latter are pivotally mounted by being secured at their lower ends to a rotatable sleeve 13lwhich surrounds the transverse tubular bar 31, as shown in FIG. 2. Latches 91d are provided between the outer tubular members 129 and the inner tubular members 127, these latch members being substantially identical with the latches 91 previously described. By releasing the latch members 91d, the assembly comprised by the seat cushion 38, foot rest 80, and the back rest 116 may be swung to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

U-shaped side rests are secured in sockets 136 carried by members 137 and are held releasably in position by means of set screws 138. V

A head rest 140, which is also cushioned, is pivoted by means of pivots 141 to lugs 142 which project from the top of back rest 116 and is held adjustably in position by means of a ratchet bar 14-3 which is pivoted, as by means of a pivot 144, to a projecting lug 145 extending from the back of the head rest. The teeth on bar 130 or 143 are engageable on a pivoted lug 146 which is carried by an arm 147, which is fixedly secured to a plate 143 carried by transverse bar 125. The angular position of the head rest 141} relative to the back rest 116 may thus be varied from a completely horizontal position to either a rearwardly inclined position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 or a raised position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The ends of the two tubular members 117 are curved outwardly as at 159 and provided with rubber grips 151, which facilitate the manual propulsion of the bed chair when employed as a chair. 7

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved combination bed chair in which the back assembly comprised by the back rest 116 and the head rest 14% may be set in any one of several positions between that shown in dotted lines and that shown in full lines in FIG. 1. The leg rest $3, seat cushion 38 and back rest 116 may be aligned and positioned at a slight negative acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane and the head rest at a slight positive acute angle. In this position the foot rests 80 may be either folded beneath the leg rest 83, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, or swung to their open positions, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1. With the head rest 140 in the same relative angular position, the leg rest 83, seat cushion 38 and back rest 116 may be moved to an approximately horizontal position. In such position the head rest 146 may be aligned with the leg rest 83, seat "cushion 38, and back rest 116. With the leg rest 83, seat cushion 38, back rest 116, and head rest 140 so aligned, they may be jointly moved to positions inclined at either small or [large positive acute angles with respect to the horizontal plane.

Another position is that the leg rests 83 and seat cushion 38 may be aligned and inclined at a slight negative acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane and the back rest 116 and head rest 140 may be inclined at a positive angle of 45 with respect to the horizontal plane. A variation of this position is leg rests 83 may be dropped down to the position shown approximately in full lines in FIG. 1.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, either leg rest 83 may be set in the position shown in dotted lines and either leg rest in the position shown in full lines.

The position shown in FIG. 1 is substantially the upright position. This may be varied by aligning .the back rest 116 and head rest 140 and moving same to a positive angle of approximately 60 with the horizontal plane. At the same time the leg rests 83 will be shifted to a positive angle of approximately 30 with respect to the horizontal plane.

The seat supporting frame 37 and seat cushion 38 may be tilted forwardly and the leg rests 83 dropped against the front tubular bar 30 to assist the patient in getting into and out of the chair. In this position the foot rests 80 will be folded beneath the leg rests 83, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. As soon however as he has gotten into the chair, the foot rests will be moved to their extended positions as shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

In the position in which the leg rests 83, seat cushion 38, back rest 116 and head rest 140 are aligned and horizontal, and with one side rest 135 folded down, the bed chair is arranged for removing a patient from a hospital bed to the bed chair or vice versa.

In all of the described positions the chair can be raised or lowered by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 39.

From the above it can be seen that the hydraulically actuated bed chair according to the present invention may be employed either in a full horizontal position as a bed, or in position as a chair, which is provided with adjustable back and head rests, leg and foot rests, arm rests, and side bars, and which is also provided with auxiliary attachments which render the same capable of a Wide variety of uses. It will also be seen that there is herein provided a device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a bed chair, the combination of a frame, caster wheels supporting said frame, brake means for said caster wheels, a platform disposed centrally of said flame and being dependingly carried and supported thereby, an bydraulic cylinder carried by said platform, a piston in said cylinder, a seat support positioned upon and carried by said piston, tan hydraulic jack for raising and lowering said piston, a guide cylinder on said platform, a guide piston secured to said seat support and engaging in said guide cylinder, a foot operated pumping lever for actuating said hydraulic jack, a back rest pivotally secured t) said seat support, a head rest pivotally secured to said back rest, leg supports pivotally secured to said seat support,

and foot rests removably and pivotally secured to said leg supports.

2. In a bed chair, the combination of a frame, caster wheels supporting said frame, brake means for said caster wheels, a platform disposed centrally of said frame and being dependingly carried and supported thereby, an hydraulic cylinder carried by said platform, a piston in said cylinder, a seat support positioned upon and carried by said piston, an hydraulic jack for raising and lowering said piston, a guide cylinder on said platform, a guide piston secured to said seat support and engaging in said guide cylinder, a foot operated pumping lever for actuating said hydraulic jack, a back rest pivotally secured to said seat support, a head rest pivotally secured to said back rest, leg supports pivotally secured to said seat support, foot rests removably and pivotally secured to said leg supports, said leg supports comprising a pair of longitudinally extending tubular members connected by at least one transverse member and a cushion positioned thereupon, said foot rests being pivotable to a position disposed between the .tubular members and the cushions of said leg supports and being completely removable from said leg supports, and manually operable geared means for varying the angular inclination of said seat support.

3. In a bed chair, the combination of a frame, caster Wheels supporting said frame, brake means for said caster wheels, a platform disposed centrally of said frame and being dependingly carried and supported thereby, an hydnaul-ic cylinder carried by said platform, a piston in said cylinder, a seat support positioned upon and carried by said piston, an hydraulic jack for raising and lowering said piston, a guide cylinder on said platform, a guide piston secured to said seat support and engaging in said guide cylinder, a foot operated pumping lever for actuating said hydraulic jack, a back rest pivotally secured to said seat support, a head rest pivotally secured to said back rest, leg supports pivotally secured to said seat support, foot rests removably and pivotally secured to said leg supports, said leg supports comprising a pair of longitudinally extending tubular members connected by at least one 11 3;115- ver-se member and a cushion positioned thereu on, said foot rests being pivotable to a position disposed between the tubular members and the cushions of said leg supports and being completely removable from said leg supports, manually operable geared means for varying the angular inclination of said seat support, said frame including tubular uprights and arm rest telescopically mounted on said uprights, and reversible side supports removably secured to said back rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,024 Bonnefoy Aug. 10, 1886 472,372 Leonard Apr. 5, 1892 1,607,168 Murphy Nov. 16, 1926 2,030,635 Horwitt et al. Feb. 11, 1936 2,653,649 Linquist Sept. 29, 1953 2,769,483 Peterson Nov. 6, 1956 2,984,294 Epstean May 16, 1961 3,010,121 Breach Nov. 28, 1961 2,020,085 Russell Feb. 6, 1962 3,038,174 Brown et al. June 12, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 260,525 Germany June 2, 1913 628,965 France July 12, 1927 477,188 Canada Sept. 25, 1951 80,259 Denmark Dec. 12, 1955 

1. IN A BED CHAIR, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME, CASTER WHEELS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME, BRAKE MEANS FOR SAID CASTER WHEELS, A PLATFORM DISPOSED CENTRALLY OF SAID FRAME AND BEING DEPENDINGLY CARRIED AND SUPPORTED THEREBY, AN HYDRAULIC CYLINDER CARRIED BY SAID PLATFORM, A PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER, A SEAT SUPPORT POSITIONED UPON AND CARRIED BY SAID PISTON, AN HYDRAULIC JACK FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID PISTON, A GUIDE CYLINDER ON SAID PLATFORM, A GUIDE PISTON SECURED TO SAID SEAT SUPPORT AND ENGAGING IN SAID GUIDE CYLINDER, A FOOT OPERATED PUMPING LEVER FOR ACTUATING SAID HYDRAULIC JACK, A BACK REST PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID SEAT SUPPORT, A HEAD REST PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID BACK REST, LEG SUPPORTS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID SEAT SUPPORT, AND FOOT RESTS REMOVABLY AND PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID LEG SUPPORTS. 